Ba'al's Mothership, a few seconds later.
The female Changeling, the three Breen, Legate Broca - the third military leader of the Cardassian Union, Weyoun, the Jem'Hadar, and the Cardassian guards in the room heard a screeching sound around them after the hologram of Ba'al vanished. They then found themselves awash in white light before their surroundings changed to a rather large room with a viewport that looked out into space.
"Welcome to my throne room," said a deep, gravelly voice, as the group turned around and saw Ba'al seated on a golden chair. There was an empty chair next to him that was decorated even more ornately that his own. The newcomers, who ordered their guards not to attack, then observed that Ba'al was leaning back with one hand rubbing his chin as he eyed the newcomers. The Changeling stared at her surroundings and saw dim lights shining from the ceiling while the walls were adorned with lit flaming torches. She then stared at Ba'al, who stood to his feet before making his way down a few steps. She then focused on the statues behind him. The Changeling then glanced over at the four humanoid beings in black armour who were simply standing two to a statue, flanking Ba'al.
It was the same with the two black armoured beings standing at an entrance, blocking it. And there were another two standing at a curtained off entrance. The newcomers watched as the curtain was pulled to one side before a dark-haired woman walked through with a flowing cape behind her. The changeling and the others narrowed their eyes at the woman who was dressed in an intricately designed strapless gold dress; a green jewel with a black ribbon around her neck, and a beautifully designed ribbon-like glove curled around her left hand with a red jewel in her palm. She glared at the Changeling and the others before she turned to Ba'al who bowed his head slightly with a smile on his lips. The woman looked at him as her eyes glowed orange before turning towards the window.
"This is my mate and your future queen," said Ba'al as the woman stood at the viewport looking out at the stars.
"Has they responded, Ba'al?" asked the woman while Ba'al said that it was very unlikely that 'they' were even still alive. He said that the two people she was talking about were dead.
"Maybe," said the woman, "we must begin. Our slaves and worshippers await us."
The Changeling stood unimpressed looking at the back of the so-called queen before she turned to stare at Ba'al. In the meantime, the Cardassians were staring at the men in silver etched armour as they stood behind consoles and tapped various buttons and columns. The Breen and Weyoun noticed the intricate design on the walls, but they couldn't understand the language.
"Show us what you are willing to do to help the Dominion, Ba'al," said the changeling.
"The Dominion will be the ones submitting to me, Changeling," said Ba'al with a smile while the queen remained silent, "never forget that."
He then looked at the Cardassians, Weyoun, the Breen soldiers, and then back to the Changeling in front of him. The Goa'uld knew she was no danger to him or to his ship due to the disease running through her biology; and he was also very aware that his own genetically engineered Jaffa standing behind him in the modified Kull armour would be an equal against the foot soldiers of the Dominion, the Jem'Hadar.
"Once I have crippled Bajor as an example of my power," said Ba'al as he looked at the female Changeling, "and when you have pledged your undying loyalty and servitude; only then will I give you the cure."
He then turned to the Cardassians and told them that he would ensure that they were masters of their own territory. Legate Broca said that the Klingons had dealt them heavy blows as of late, and he would pledge the loyalty the of entire Cardassian Union to Ba'al if he could show him he had the technology to destroy one of the enemies who had embarrassed Cardassia; the Bajorans.
However, Broca knew that it was a risk. The Cardassians were beholden to the Dominion. They promised that the Cardassian Union would reach the height of power they once had under their rule. But that had never come to fruition and Legate Broca knew the people were unhappy. Now here was someone else promising the destruction of their hated enemy, the Bajorans. And there was something telling him that Ba'al would be able to make do with his threats. The Legate knew Ba'al had to be able to do something… or else the Dominion would turn on the Cardassians and kill each and every man, woman, and child for betraying them.
"I will have your loyalty," said Ba'al before turning to the Breen soldiers, including to the General in charge of all Breen, "you will receive whichever territory pleases you. However, Earth is mine."
The Breen looked at each other before saying that they wanted Vulcan and Romulus, as well as their colonies. They intended to carve up the Federation and conquer each section in their own way. Ba'al nodded his head with a smirk on his lips.
He then told the group that they were about to head to Bajor. The group watched as the giant two-thousand-meter-long ship entered a breach that opened in space., changing a few seconds later to the blue and white tunnel of hyperspace all around them. Before the Changeling could ask, with a look of genuine surprise on her face at seeing something that she had never seen before, Ba'al said that they were travelling in hyperspace.
A few minutes later, the group looked on as the giant ship exited hyperspace and stopped over the planet known as Bajor.
"Lord Ba'al," said one of the Jaffa as the newcomers turned to the bald man who had a golden tattoo etched on his forehead, "we are being hailed from the surface."
"I do not wish to hear from those I do not see as my equals," said Ba'al as the Cardassians in the group looked at each other and smirked before turning to Ba'al once again, "for now, I am a vengeful god who only wants to earn the love of my subjects… my true children."
"You do pretend to be a god perfectly," mocked the Changeling while Weyoun agreed as the Jem'Hadar prepared to make their move once they were ordered to by the Changeling.
"I have been alive for over ten thousand years," smiled Ba'al as the Changeling glared at him while the others looked at each other and whispered among themselves, "I have died and been reborn many times. If that is not the power of a god, then I don't know what is."
"Ba'al… I mean, Lord Ba'al," said Legate Broca as the Changeling and the others looked at him, "I meant what I said earlier. If I can tell the Cardassians that the Bajorans infiltrated a small cell led by the traitor Damar, and that it was them who were attacking innocents on Cardassia... then this attack can be a retaliation for so many deaths of Cardassian men, women, and children. The destruction of Bajor will unite the Cardassian Union with you."
Ba'al smiled before heading back to his command seat.
"Watch, Changeling," said Ba'al as he sat down once again, "watch how a god earns more followers. Through acts of love for those who worship them, and acts of destruction for those who insult them."
"The Founders are the true gods," said Weyoun, "they have…"
"The Goa'uld were gods long before your species started to walk," hissed Ba'al interrupting Weyoun before turning to his First Prime, "fire all enhanced weapons at the surface."
"Sensors are tracking ships coming towards us, my Lord," said the other Jaffa.
"Destroy them while firing on the surface," said Ba'al, "prepare the main weapon, and activate the Eyes of the Gods."
"Understood," said the First Prime while Ba'al motioned for the newcomers to look at the holographic screen that popped up from one of the consoles. They saw, thanks to the external sensors while the Cardassians smiled, orange coloured bolts of energy being fired on the planet below. They could imagine the screams of pain and the wanton destruction being caused by the attack on the cities on Bajor.
"Where are your prophets and Emissary now?" whispered Legate Broca.
Orbit of Earth, USS Enterprise, five minutes earlier.
Thanks to information from a lone Klingon ship that survived the destruction at the Chin'toka system, and the data sent by the Persephone in regards to the Breen energy dampening weapon, the Starfleet engineers were able to discover a way to neutralise its effects. With Laforge and Data on the surface helping with refining upgrades to their existing shield generators with several other engineers, the Enterprise was orbiting Earth with twenty other ships.
"Is the Sao Paolo ready to go to Deep Space Nine, Admiral," asked Captain Picard as he spoke to Admiral Paris from his ready room. The Admiral was on the surface in his office while replying that new shield generators had to be installed on the Sao Paolo before it could be sent to Deep Space Nine. And that would take another two weeks.
"In the meantime, we have to hope that Damar's rebellion on Cardassia holds out," said the Admiral when captain Picard was called out to the bridge by Commander Riker. The Captain told the Admiral that they would continue speaking at a later time before he rushed out of the ready room and onto the bridge.
"Report," he commanded.
Commander Riker, who was sitting on a seat to the left of the Captain's chair, told him that they were reading an unknown form of subspace radiation; the same radiation as the one emitted by the Persephone's hull a few days ago.
"Looks like our friends have…." The Captain didn't finish what he wanted to say when a breach opened up and an unknown vessel jumped out of hyperspace and slowed down before stopping. The crew of the Enterprise, including the crew of the other ships, were curious about the new ship that had a black hull with the rear portion pyramid shaped in design. In addition, there were two large wings that extended from the base and curved forward into the forward cockpit of the vessel. The Captain was curious about the new ship, but there was another part of him that felt uneasy. It was a feeling he couldn't explain while Counsellor Troi stood up rubbing the sides of her head. Noticing the woman's unease, Commander Riker rushed to her and asked if she was feeling alright.
"Rage… Commander," said Troi while rubbing the side of her head, "so much rage."
"From the crew of the ship?" asked the Captain as Troi held onto Riker's arm.
"There are two people on the ship," said the counsellor looking out the viewscreen at the smaller vessel, "but the rage is so blinding. Rage at us."
"Sir," said Lt. Daniels, the tactical officer, "sensors are showing only one life sign."
"I'm reading two," said the Counsellor while continuing to rub her temples, "and they have so much hate."
"Hailing frequencies," Commanded Captain Picard. Riker nodded his head and then pressed a few buttons on the panel in front of him before nodding his head at the Captain and saying that frequencies were open.
"This Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Federation Starship Enterprise," said the Captain as he stared out the view screen at the ship, "unknown vessel, you are in controlled Space. Identify yourself."
However, there was no response. The Captain repeated his hail as the ship, an Al'Kesh, hung in open space facing the ships that were orbiting Earth.
"The time of reckoning has come for Earth, your god is coming.. You will bow down to him and his queen," said a voice a few seconds after the third hail. While Riker and the others had faced everything from the Borg to the Sona'a, there was something in the man's gravelly voice that sent a shiver up his spine. It was a gut instinct that had Riker recommend to the Captain that the fleet over Earth raise their shields and charge their phasers.
"I… I agree, Captain," said Troi shaking her head, "I haven't felt rage like this from any species, not even the Borg."
"Captain," said Guinan through her comm-badge. The woman was standing near a viewport in Ten-Forward looking at the mysterious ship. She remembered the stories she heard from the Salish and several other people's description that matched the ship she was seeing with her own two eyes. And a cold chill went through her body, "this is a Goa'uld ship."
"You said the Tau'ri destroyed the Goa'uld," said Picard, "Guinan, how can this ship be from a people supposedly wiped out?"
"Captain," said Lieutenant Daniels, "I'm reading a massive power surge."
"Order the fleet to raise shields and prepare to fire all phasers and quantum torpedoes," said the Captain. A few seconds later there was a beep indicating the fleet acknowledged the order. Every ship then raised shields and targeted the Goa'uld ship with their phasers and torpedoes. Lt. Daniels then said that the surge coincided with another power surge on Earth. All of a sudden, the Goa'uld ship then came about and opened a breach before jumping into it. The Captain looked on confused while the Trill Conn officer, Kell Perim, turned around from her console and said that they were receiving a message from Starfleet Command about a white light depositing a ring-shaped object on the grounds of Starfleet Headquarters in the Presidio.
"On screen," the Captain ordered. The viewscreen changed from the star field around Earth, to the grounds above Starfleet Headquarters. The image on the screen showed a grey coloured, ring-shaped object that several people were already surrounding. The captain then turned to Riker and ordered him to have quarantine set up around the ring, and then have a science team accompanied by Data and Laforge to investigate the object. However, before Riker could even transmit the order, Ensign Perim said that sensors were showing a power surge coming from the ring. They watched as the gathered officers stepped back as the chevrons around the device lit up, while some had their tricorders open and scanning the inside edge fo the device. When the seventh symbol was activated, everyone heard and saw the whoosh of an unstable vortex that shot outwards... instantly killing several officers who were in the way. Everyone watched in stunned silence as the vortex settled into a pool of what looked like rippling blue water.
"Get me Admiral Paris," ordered the Captain when suddenly Ensign Perim said that they were getting a subspace signal all the way from Bajor. She added that the signal was being beamed through all Federation frequencies; including all secured frequencies.
"Secured frequencies?" repeated the Captain. He knew that only high-level officers of the Federation fleet had access to those secured channels. And there was no way a Federation officer would willingly give access to an enemy. The Captain then asked whose security code was being used to access the secured channels, and the man was stunned to learn that it was from Captain Edward Jellico of the USS Cairo which was on a deep space assignment.
"Contact the Cairo," ordered Captain Picard who knew that the ship was supposed to be on a deep space assignment against the Dominion, "and put the subspace signal on-screen."
"Aye," replied the Ensign before she turned around and tapped some buttons on the panel in front of her. The screen switched from the pool of blue in the middle of the ring on the Presidio as Geordie and Data approached it cautiously, to a ship that was firing down on Bajor while destroying various Bajoran vessels that were doing their best to defend their Homeworld.
"Oh my God," whispered the Commander as he and the others stared at the destruction on the planet below.
"Get me Admiral Paris, now!" barked Picard while wondering if the giant ship that was currently turning over so that it's domed section was facing the planet, belonged to the Goa'uld. His artificial heart was racing as he watched the orange pulse blasts hitting the surface of the planet.
He knew that people were dying, and all they could do was watch.
Station Deep Space Nine, Control Room, a few seconds ago.
The Emissary of the Bajoran Prophets, the aliens who lived in what the Federation thought was the only stable artificial wormhole in the galaxy, rushed out of his office. He ran down the stairs and to the control room where his First Officer, the Bajoran Major Kira Nerys, said they were receiving an emergency broadcast from Bajor.
"On screen," the bald, dark skinned man commanded. They turned to the activated screen and listened to the leader of the Bajoran militia reporting that a ship had appeared in orbit of the planet only a few seconds ago. He said that after several unanswered hails were sent to the ship, several Bajoran Militia vessels were sent up to intercept the vessel. However, all of them were instantly destroyed. And then the picture on the screen started to crackle before it disappeared and the screen went dead. A few seconds later, one of the Bajoran officers said that they were receiving a secured signal from Starfleet.
"Put it through," ordered the Captain while his heart raced, and a cold shudder went through his body at feeling that something was very wrong. Immediately the eyes of everyone in the control room widened, with the Bajorans in the control room placing hands over their mouths in shock at what they were witnessing. They knew that with the Defiant destroyed, there was nothing anyone in the station could do but watch... that even with the runabouts, they were utterly powerless as another Bajoran ship was destroyed in one blast. Starfleet sent another message telling the Captain that four Starfleet ships that were heading for the station were being re-routed to Bajor to handle the attacking ship, as well as a Klingon battle group that was heading for the station, and four Vulcan and Romulan ships.
There was just a quick acknowledgement as the Captain and the others who were soon joined by the senior staff upon hearing that Bajor was being attacked, rushed up to the control room. And it wasn't just the senior staff, monitors all over the station were being taken over by the Federation signal as Bajorans held each other in fear, while others rushed to the Bajoran temple and prayed for the Prophets to intervene as the planet was being bombarded.
"Old man," said the Captain as he looked at Ezri Dax while Constable Odo was holding onto the stunned Major Kira. Everyone, from Deep Space Nine to the Enterprise, to the Vulcan Capital, to Starfleet Headquarters, and throughout the major Alpha Quadrant homeworlds, was watching the destruction. Everyone watched as the scene changed from the planet being bombarded to the inside of a large dimly lit room. Everyone stared at their screens at Legate Broca as he spoke, "my fellow Cardassians. The rebellion on Cardassia Prime is being led by the traitor Damar with the aid of our greatest enemies; the Federation, the Klingons, and the Bajorans. To my brothers and sisters in the rebellion, if you surrender now, you will be forgiven as we fight back against the three races who have caused us the most pain."
"What the hell is he doing?" asked Captain Sicko.
"To those of you who do not surrender, who insist on working with the traitor known as Damar," said Broca as he breathed in and out before speaking, "you will watch what happens to those who betray us. To those who terrorise us. To those who want to crush us under their heels. Listen to our god, Ba'al."
"Ba'al?" asked Captain Sisko who was confused as were the others in the station as they watched the broadcasts. Everyone in the Federation was watching the broadcast in disbelief as another Bajoran ship was destroyed. All of them had the exact same question in their heads: who was Ba'al? Where was Starfleet? And what happened to the Dominion?
Mid-Way station, void between Milky Way and Pegasus galaxies, a few minutes ago.
The Mid-Way station was once the transit stop for the CMR, Carter-Mckay-Rosenberg, Gate bridge hundreds of years ago. It was meant to cut down the time for travelling from the SGC to Atlantis from what used to be a ten-day voyage by ship in the years before the exodus from Earth to only thirty minutes. Anyone could be send direct to the Midway station through a series of Stargates that lined the void after activation of a macro developed by Dr. McKay only from the SGC. Once transit was completed through the Milk Way section of the Gate bridge at the Midway Station, another Macro was input to send a traveller directly to Atlantis through the line of Pegasus Stargates.
Once the Tau'ri and their allies left the Milky Way for good following the destruction of the Goa'uld and the activation of the Avenger Three virus, it was left unused. However, it was only recently reactivated and overhauled with the latest technology by the Tau'ri after coming out of the time dilation field forty years ago. The overhaul had taken a little over five years, but it was finally completed and the station began a new life as a listening station for any problems in the Milky Way that could affect Earth or Pegasus. While the listening station played a small part in the station, it was still important with the rest of the Station being used for experimental research by Kobolians, the Tau'ri, the Asgard, the Jaffa, and various other races of the Pegasus Alliance.
The station used powerful subspace transceivers to connect to the various cloaked satellites the Ancients and the Tau'ri themselves had left long ago. It was through this listening post that information was gathered on the Breen attack a few days ago before being sent to analysts on Atlantis.
It was this fateful day that both Johnathan and Andrew were on the station's listening post where sensors were directed towards Earth. The both of them were conducting their own research when an alarm started to blare. They got off their computers and then headed to another console where they saw an image of Earth and a small pyramid ship being surround by several other vessels.
"I'm seeing a Goa'uld Al'kesh," said Jonathan as he looked at the monitor. Andrew rushed over to him and said that it wasn't possible, that the Goa'uld were all destroyed. Jonathan then said that what they were watching was happening in real-time and that it was certainly a Goa'uld ship. They then read a surge of energy on their instruments before zooming into the location of the energy surge and were stunned to find a Stargate in the Presidio. They looked at each other before turning back to the Stargate dialling, followed by an activation.
"That's not possible," said Andrew as he rushed to another console and contacted the station administrator and asked her if the Avenger Three virus was still present throughout the Milky Way network. Their hearts fell when the young Sikarian on the other line said that she just tried to dial a planet in the Milky War after inputting the Macro, but there was no luck.
"Dial Atlantis, Lianta," said Andrew while Jonathan called his attention back to the console. Andrew turned from the intercom on the wall and stared at the strange planet that was being fired upon, before turning back to the intercom and telling Lianta to contact Willow at Atlantis, "this is a Code Red. Priority One… General Rosenberg needs to see this. Send the signal from the listening post directly to where-ever Willow is on Atlantis. It's the Goa'uld. They've returned."
"Dialling Atlantis," said Lianta as she input the code in a hurry while Andrew watched Legate Broca appear on the screen.
Seven's Room, Atlantis, a few seconds later.
"General Rosenberg to your nearest monitor on coded channel One-Five-Two, you have an urgent message from Midway Station," said the voice over Atlantis' PA system. Willow, who was still with the Starfleet personnel, headed to the monitor behind Seven's bed. It was currently disabled since the blonde woman was on a hoverchair being prepared to head out for breakfast with her crewmates.
Willow activated the screen, input a code on the screen, before inputting her clearance code and stepped back as Jonathan and Andrew's face appeared.
"Willow," said Andrew while the redhead nodded her head, "we have a problem. There's something you need to hear and see from the Milky Way."
"Go ahead," said Willow as the picture turned to Legate Broca. Willow turned around towards Janeway who said that they were listing to a Cardassian. Everyone stopped what they were doing when Broca mentioned Ba'al's name. Willow's eyes went up and stared at the two General's and the rest of the former SG-1, and Cassie, before turning to the screen. Janeway and the others were confused as to what was happening when a bearded man stepped into the video while the Legate bowed his head at the newcomer and stepped back.
"Seriously," said General O'Neill with a frown as Ba'al smirked, "that guy is like a cockroach. You kill him but he always pops up somewhere and…"
"Jack," said General Carter as she placed her hand on his shoulder.
"General," said Janeway looking at Willow, and then at General Carter and O'Neill, "who's Ba'al?"
"People of the so-called Alpha Quadrant," exclaimed Ba'al with a smile on his face before the three General's could answer. The gravelly voice bringing Janeway's attention back to him, as well as the attention of the other people in the room… and of those in the orbiting stations over Lantea, and Atlantis, "it has been far too long. Once upon a time, the Galaxy feared the Goa'uld… feared me. But why would you want to fear a god?"
"Here he goes," said General O'Neill rolling his eyes.
"And yes, I am a god," gushed Ba'al, "I died so many times, but I have always returned. And now… once I discovered the Tau'ri returned to protect the planet that was once their home… I decided it was time to make myself known. I will show the Tau'ri that despite all they have done, they can never stop a god. They have tried, but they can never stop me. And now I will show my power. My ship is over the world known as Bajor. From what I gained thanks to intelligence on this backward world, they worship some gods called Prophets. And they have an emissary to protect them. That is blasphemy to my name. And these small creatures have hurt those who worship me."
"The Tau'ri homeworld is… Earth?" said Picard on the Enterprise as he turned and stared in surprise at the shocked looks on the faces of Troi and the others while Ba'al continued to talk in the background. Picard then, with his jaw set while more questions swam in his mind, turned back around and stared at the face of the madman on the screen.
"Now he has a queen?" asked Daniel back in Atlantis. The view then changed to a giant, spiked ship with a large dome on top as it turned over while continuing to fire at the planet. It maneuvered itself into position while shooting bolts of orange onto the planet's surface. Everyone from Atlantis to the orbital stations around Lantea, to the Midway Station, to everyone in the Federation, and even the Borg intercepted the signal as the dome on top of the ship now faced the planet and started to peel open.
"Willow," gasped General Carter as she looked at the redhead who had her hands rolled into fists, "that's Anubis' ship.. at least it looks like it."
"Anubis?" asked Janeway.
"The Ancient Egyptian god of death," said Seven as she stared at the screen while accessing the memories of a historian who used to work at a branch of the Federation Archives on one of the many planets assimilated by the Borg.
"Anubis was not a god," said Teal'c as the Starfleet personnel looked at him while Ba'al continued to speak. Willow and the others knew that it was going to be at least twelve hours before any ships could arrive in the Milky Way, and even with Atlantis using the Wormhole Drive, the Tau'ri would need to gather the necessary ships and evacuate all non-essential personnel from the city. While Daniel started to give a history of the Goa'uld, Willow asked him to hold any explanation when Ba'al mentioned that he was going to rule with his queen by his side.
Every Atlantis personnel in Seven's room watched as Ba'al called for his queen, and gasped when they saw her.
"She's dead," said Daniel shaking his head as Janeway and the others turned towards him and then noticed the look of utter shock on the faces of the Tau'ri. Janeway then looked at the woman on the screen who spoke in a gravelly voice saying that the time to worship Ba'al had returned.
"Vala killed her," said a surprised Teal'c.
"I am Qetesh," said the woman with a smile on her face.
"Adria," said Colonel Carter while Willow and Faith stared at the woman in front of them on the screen. Everyone on Atlantis was stunned by the reappearance of both Ba'al and Adria, the former Orici… a literal child of the Ori. She was a woman who was killed by Vala when she nearly killed Willow during their final battle. A battle that ended with Vala shooting a bullet into Adria's head just before she could snap the neck of a bruised and bleeding Willow hundreds of years ago. Willow's final act before losing consciousness to blood loss was to gather a white coloured energy as she held out her shaking hand towards the dead Adria. With enough of the energy gathered in the palm of her hand, Willow fired it and smashed the Orici's head apart so that she could never be a danger to them again.
"We burned her body," said Faith shaking her head, "it can't be possible unless… oh God."
"Asgard cloning technology," whispered Colonel Carter while Harry and Paris looked at her, and then at each other while wondering why everyone was so worried.
"We didn't get all the Ba'al clones," said Willow, "or all of the Goa'uld hideouts. Make sure that the President see's this too, Faith."
Faith nodded her head and pressed her earpiece before telling the officers in Stargate Operations to channel the feed to the Lumeria city-ship.
"And by the end of this day," said Adria as Willow and the others looked on while Faith said that the feed was being transmitted to the President's office, "the Federation will fall. The Goa'uld have returned to claim their kingdom and slaves from the ones to took everything away from us. With the coming fall of the Tau'ri homeworld, the Federation will crumble. All of you will bow down to us."
It was then that there was a split screen that showed the activated Stargate; it was something else which surprised not just Willow and the Tau'ri, but the Starfleet personnel as well when they discovered it was in Starfleet headquarters.
"How is a Stargate active, and…. Oh dear God," said General Carter when humanoids beings in black armour started to step through the gate and immediately began firing on the gathered officers.
Presidio, Starfleet Headquarters, Earth, a few seconds ago.
Back on Earth just a few seconds ago, Data and Laforge were investigating the mysterious ring-shaped object while some of the other engineering officers were using tricorders and other instruments on the pool of 'water'. It was then that one of the engineers exclaimed that their readings were telling them that they were looking at the event horizon of an artificial wormhole.
"What?" exclaimed Geordie in disbelief when suddenly there were ripples on the event horizon as humanoids in black armour stepped through and started to attack. Data pulled away Geordie just before a plasma repeater blast passed the spot where he was standing.
"Enterprise, we had a Code Red situation," said Data as he fired at the humanoids with his phaser. The beam just hit the armour, and then crackled on the surface before dissipating. A stunned Geordie then ordered everyone to fall back while being fired upon by plasma fire. At the same time, Data was recommending to Captain Picard that the Academy needed to be placed on lockdown. He also added that their phase two phasers were ineffective in stopping the armoured figured as more security officers fired at the armoured figures to no avail. While the ships in orbit were sending more security teams to the surface with phaser rifles, everyone else watched helplessly as Adria's voice overlapped the images of phaser fire hitting the black armoured beings to no effect. The beings, modified Kull warriors, shot back at the Starfleet personnel while Adria was saying that Earth would fall... that the legacy of the Tau'ri would crash and burn.
Deep Space Nine, at that same time.
"Now, people of the Federation, believe me when I say that you will bow before us," said Adria over the image of a pillar of yellow light being fired from the peeled dome and hitting Bajor's capital city. Everyone in Atlantis and the Alpha quadrant watched what was happened with bated breath. But Captain Sisko could feel the horror growing in his very soul of what was about to happen. He could hear the screams of people begging for help from the ether all around him, but he was helpless. The closest Federation, Klingon, Romulan, and Vulcan ships were thirty minutes away from Bajor, but by then it would be too late. He looked at the stunned faces of the Bajorans around him, at his fellow crewmates, and wondered what other troubles they had to deal with.
"Emissary!" said one of the Bajorans as she pointed at the screen. Captain Sisko looked at the image, while a tearful Major Kira could only hold on to Constable Odo as she watched the unimaginable unfolding before her eyes. A blast of orange energy travelled down the beam of light from the center of the peeled sections of the dome. Energy crackled around the spherical shaped blast as it travelled down while gaining speed.
"Oh God," said Janeway as she and the others watched from Atlantis when the blast impacted Bajor, followed by blast waves that emanated from the central area of the blast. The Cardassians in all their territories watched, some with happiness at the destruction of the ones who dared to challenge them, and others with horror at the death and destruction occurring on Bajor. Damar himself watched in stunned silence from a rebel hideout at the expanding blast wave causing tsunamis visible from space. He hated the Bajorans and at first never understood the reason they committed acts of terror against the Cardassians during the occupation of Bajor. Now that the Cardassian's themselves were occupied by the Dominion, he finally understood… and as he looked at the destruction of Bajor, all he could think of was the people that would be left alive would be suffering for the rest of their lives.
And he bowed his head at the loss of the Cardassia he had once known.
Back on Deep Space Nine, Captain Sisko stumbled back and caught himself against a console as the Bajorans around him started to pray for guidance, while others silently looked towards him – he was the emissary and he was unable to do anything. He knew that the faith of the Bajorans was shaken to the core. And then there was Major Kira who was on her knees with Odo hugging her as she openly sobbed. Dr. Bashir rushed, still in shock, who a Bajoran who fainted while Ezri, Worf, and O'Brian could only look on at the image with horror at the tsunamis on the surface of the green ocean before making landfall. The Captain looked at the Constable and their eyes met. There was nothing anyone could say - what could anyone say at the sudden near extinction of a people?
"Get… get me Starfleet Command," said the Captain softly, but with anger in his voice, "my office. Get them on the line, now!"
Atlantis, at the same time.
"How many people on Bajor?" asked Daniel softly while watching the destruction on the screen.
"A… a little under four billion," said Chakotay, his voice shaking at the tsunamis breaking over land/.
"All those people," said Neelix as Ba'al appeared on screen again.
"You have seen my power," said Ba'al as the screen switched to Starfleet Academy where more Kull warriors were walking through the Gate and killing anyone moving, or being beamed in. They then began to move into the compound while Ba'al said that the military was being targeted and that civilians would be safe as long as they did not fight back, "but no more of your Starfleet will have to die unless you surrender to me. Recognise me as your god. And I will make sure you live productive lives under my rule. Earth will be the jewel of the new Goa'uld empire. Earth and the Federation have only an hour to issue an unconditional surrender or the next planet destroyed will be Vulcan. Or perhaps the Klingon homeworld, or the Romulans. Yes, my dear people... I have been watching all of you. But surrender or not, my next stop will be the home of the Tau'ri. My Kull warriors will stop their attack only when you bow down and surrender."
The screen then went silent while an Ancient satellite caught sight of the massive ship closing it's dome before heading out towards Earth. Willow then stepped forward and cut off the screen, and then stared at her reflection before turning around.
"One final battle then," she whispered.
"Willow," said General Carter, the redhead's idol, "the Stargate's on a thirty-eight-minute cycle."
"What does that mean?" asked Paris.
"A wormhole can only last for thirty-eight minutes because of the massive amount of energy involved," said Willow nodding her head, "which means that once the wormhole disengages, we can send a few teams through directly to Earth from Atlantis."
"But how the heck did the Avenger Three Virus miss this Stargate, and the other one where Ba'al's sending his troops from?" asked General O'Neill.
"I say we ask him before he's punished," said Neelix as the Starfleet personnel looked at him, "I'm sorry, but all of us just witnessed the murder of millions of innocents. He should be punished."
"And he will be," said Janeway before looking at Willow, "under Federation law."
"We can deal with jurisdiction later," said Willow just as Cordelia's solemn looking face appeared on the screen.
"Willow," she said.
"Madam President," said Willow nodding her head after turning around.
"I got the message when I was having a meeting with the chairman of the Pegasus Alliance," said Cordelia, "she said that while she's horrified about what's happened in the Milky Way, and the threat to Earth by Ba'al… the Alliance can't officially declare full-fledged war in the Milky Way. It's an internal affair."
"Cordy," said Faith shaking her head.
"Officially," Cordelia emphasised the word and then continued by saying that people are tired of the nearly forty year war with the Wraith, and they're just looking forward to peace and exploration of the galaxy, "unofficially, though, she'll be alright with sending a small peacekeeping force to Earth. Technically, Earth is still under the Protected Planets Treaty… and there is a Goa'uld ship heading there right now so technically we're trying to keep the peace. Not start another war. At least that's the explanation she'll be giving the Alliance Council at an emergency meeting."
"I know," said Willow.
"I'm sure that the Free Jaffa, the Kobolians, the Asgard, the Furlings will want to send ships for this peacekeeping mission," said Cordelia, "the Alliance chairman will also allow humanitarian aid to the planet that was attacked. He'll ask the Orban and the Pangaran's to send three of their hospital ships with an escort of Avalon class ships."
"We have a deadline, Madam President," said Janeway, "Ba'al has given Earth and the Federation an hour to surrender. After what we've just seen…. I don't know what the Federation Council will do."
"We must leave as soon as the Stargate is deactivated," said Teal'c, "I suggest several SG teams with anti-Kull armour ammunition, as well as Slayer squads equipped with full tactical weaponry."
"Slayers?" asked Janeway.
"Long story," said Faith.
"Willow," said Cordelia, "I'll contact Thor and the others. I'll have them send ships over to Lantea in twenty minutes."
"President Chase," said General Carter, "it's very likely that the only way to make it to Earth in time would be to use the Wormhole drive. And with the controls in the Death Valley outpost destroyed, they needed the weapons on the base against a possibly Ori engineered ship."
"Willow?" asked Cordelia at the redhead while B'Ellana was asking about the wormhole drive, and Harry was asking about the Ori while Tuvok arched an eyebrow and turned to Teal'c. Before any of the Atlantis personnel could answer B'Ellana, and before any questions in the Starfleet officers' minds could be asked about the Ori; Cordelia asked Willow if she was planning to have the Tau'ri make their presence known again in the Milky Way on a permanent basis.
"Pegasus is our home now, Madam President," said Willow as Cordelia breathed a sigh of relief, "we'll be coming home after the 'peacekeeping' mission is completed. Atlantis will return to Lantea."
"I'll inform congress of what's going on, General," said Cordelia, "but I know what they'll say; go for it, Willow. Get your people ready."
"Understood," said Willow nodding her head before the screen turned off. It was then that they heard the Doctor cough before he said, "excuse me."
"There's something that's been bothering me," said the Doctor as he looked at the Tau'ri personnel who turned towards him, "Ba'al said that he was going to the Tau'ri homeworld. But if the Tau'ri homeworld is Avalon, then why was a Stargate sent to Earth? Why is Earth being attacked? Why are we discussing Earth unless…"
"It can't be," said Janeway as she looked at Willow, Cordelia, and then at a shrugging General O'Neill while Faith was looking back at them with an eyebrow raised. At the same time, Teal'c was simply standing stoically, with Cassie by his side, while saying that he was from Chulak.
"Avalon is the name used by a race long ago for the Milky Way," said Willow as Janeway and the other Starfleet officers started to study the people around them, "we'll talk to you guys about everything later. What you do have to know is that we're not from any planet called Avalon."
"We're from Terra, we're from Earth," said Daniel as Janeway started to chuckle before asking then to stop kidding around.
"Captain," said a surprised Seven as she looked at the Tau'ri, "their body language and facial markers are telling me that they speak the truth. They are from Earth."
"No, it's not possible," said Janeway.
"I was born in Sunnydale, California, in 1985," said Willow as the Voyager senior officers stopped talking among themselves, "President Chase was also born in Sunnydale. In fact, we went to Sunnydale High together."
"South Boston here," said Faith.
"Minnesota," said General O'Neill.
"Colorado Springs," added General Carter to Neelix and Harry's surprise.
"Then Dr. Fraiser?" asked the Doctor as he looked at Cassie.
"A planet called Hanka, twenty-two thousand light years from Earth."
"Oh," said a surprised Doctor who expected Cassie to be from Earth as well.
"The book you read?" said Daniel looking at a surprised Chakotay, "you were right. I wrote it… it ruined my career, but it opened another door…. I was introduced to the Stargate Program."
"So it's true?" asked Chakotay, "but…."
"We can explain things later," said Willow, "right now, we have a job to do. Captain Janeway, Atlantis was never on Avalon, it was always in the Pegasus galaxy. It was a beacon of hope during the first Lantean-Wraith war, it was a beacon of hope for the Alliance-Wraith war, and it's going to be the same for this final battle."
"In.. in that case," said Janeway who was still in disbelief. However, she knew that her homeworld was under attack… the Federation way of life was under attack, and there was no way she was going to be standing by on the side-lines. Everything else could be discussed later, if they survived, "we're ready."
TBC.